Deputy First Minister launches initiative to foster closer links between schools and businesses

On a recent visit to school children in Lanarkshire Mr Swinney backed Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire’s Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) Regional Group. Members of the group will work together to lead and drive change in how employers engage with schools and colleges in the area while challenging and supporting employers to recruit more young people into their workforce.

The Deputy First Minister was joined by Minister for Employability and Training, Jamie Hepburn, in meeting with young people at Our Lady’s High School in Cumbernauld to hear about the excellent work they are already doing around DYW.

Mr Swinney said: “Developing the Young Workforce - Scotland’s Youth Employment Strategy is a seven year national plan that aims to enable young people of all backgrounds to succeed in a stronger, fairer and more equitable labour market by ensuring education is preparing them for their working lives.

“I am delighted to launch the Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire Developing the Young Workforce Regional Group. It is an exciting step in the right direction towards achieving this. Covering South Lanarkshire, East Dunbartonshire and North Lanarkshire the group will be supported by over £1million of Scottish Government funding across the next three years.

“Our 2021 target of reducing 2014 levels of youth unemployment by 40 percent is extremely ambitious, but achievable, with the great work of regional groups like this to build bridges between the education system and local businesses, reducing barriers to employment for our young people.”